Floral container and methods of use thereof

ABSTRACT

A flexible floral container includes a floral vase and an inner membrane. The stems of a floral grouping disposed in the flexible floral container provide structural support to the flexible floral container and cooperate to maintain the flexible floral container in a substantially erect condition.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 12/728,762, filedMar. 22, 2010, now abandoned; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.12/498,047, filed Jul. 6, 2009, now abandoned; which is a continuationof U.S. Ser. No. 11/582,640, filed Oct. 18, 2006, now abandoned; whichclaims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of provisional applicationU.S. Ser. No. 60/728,539, filed Oct. 20, 2005. The entire contents ofthe above-referenced applications are hereby expressly incorporatedherein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related to the field of containers for containing cutflowers, and more particularly to such containers which are flexible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible container constructed inaccordance with the presently disclosed and claimed inventiveconcept(s).

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an inner membrane of the flexible containerof FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate configuration of a flexiblecontainer constructed in accordance with the presently disclosed andclaimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate configuration of a flexiblecontainer constructed in accordance with the presently disclosed andclaimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate configuration of a flexiblecontainer constructed in accordance with the presently disclosed andclaimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate configuration of a flexiblecontainer constructed in accordance with the presently disclosed andclaimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate configuration of a flexiblecontainer constructed in accordance with the presently disclosed andclaimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of an alternate configuration of the innermembrane of the flexible container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of an alternate configuration of the innermembrane of the flexible container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a plant package having cut flowersand the flexible container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 a is a cross-sectional view of the plant package of FIG. 10including a securing element disposed thereabout.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the plant package of FIG. 10 atipped over on its side to demonstrate how water in the flexiblecontainer is captured by the inner membrane.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of theflexible container constructed in accordance with the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible container of FIG. 12containing cut flowers.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of theflexible container constructed in accordance with the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible container of FIG. 14containing cut flowers.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of theflexible container constructed in accordance with the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible container of FIG. 16containing cut flowers.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of theflexible container constructed in accordance with the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of theflexible container constructed in accordance with the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 20 is a plan view of the upper support disk of the flexiblecontainer of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a plan view of an alternate version of the upper support diskof the flexible container of FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is a plan view of an alternate version of the upper support diskof the flexible container of FIG. 19.

FIG. 23 is a plan view of an alternate version of the upper support diskof the flexible container of FIG. 19.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of theflexible container constructed in accordance with the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of theflexible container constructed in accordance with the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible container of FIG. 25containing cut flowers.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of theflexible container constructed in accordance with the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of theflexible container constructed in accordance with the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of theflexible container constructed in accordance with the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible container of FIG. 29containing cut flowers.

FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of theflexible container constructed in accordance with the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 32 is a top plan view of the flexible container of FIG. 31.

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible container of FIG. 31containing cut flowers.

FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of theflexible container constructed in accordance with the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible container of FIG. 34containing cut flowers.

FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of theflexible container constructed in accordance with the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 37 is a top plan view of the flexible container of FIG. 36.

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of a stem support assembly for use in aflexible container.

FIG. 39 is a perspective view of the stem support assembly of FIG. 38disposed within a flexible container with cut flowers.

FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view of the stem support assembly of FIG.38 disposed within a flexible container with cut flowers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY DISCLOSED AND CLAIMED INVENTIVECONCEPTS

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and the arrangement of the components orsteps or methodologies set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also,it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employedherein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded aslimiting.

The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) contemplates aflexible floral container for containing cut flowers. The flexiblefloral container is preferably constructed so as to be free-standingwhen at least partially filled with water or other medium which, alongwith one or more stems of a floral grouping disposed therein, serves asa ballast. The flexible floral container comprises a flexible floralvase and a membrane disposed therein, wherein the membrane functions tomaintain the stems of a floral grouping in a substantially erectposition and prevents the flexible floral container from tipping over,thus allowing one or more stems of the floral grouping to act asstructural members for maintaining the flexible floral container in asubstantially erect condition.

The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) is related to afloral container and methods of use thereof. The floral containerincludes a floral vase having a sidewall, an open upper end, a closedlower end, an outer surface and an inner surface encompassing aninterior space. The floral container further includes an inner membraneextending across a portion of the interior space of the vase. In oneembodiment, a first portion of the membrane may be attached to a firstportion of the inner surface of the vase and at least a second portionattached to a second portion of the inner surface of the vase. Inanother embodiment, the inner membrane may not be attached to theflexible floral vase.

In one embodiment, the floral vase, and thus the floral container formedtherefrom, is flexible.

The inner membrane may separate the interior space of the vase into anupper interior space above the inner membrane and a lower interior spacebelow the inner membrane. The inner membrane may comprise at least oneopening for allowing passage of water, plant stems, and/or other itemsor materials therethrough into the lower interior space of the vase.

The floral container may further include a second inner membraneattached to the inner surface of the vase above or below the firstmentioned inner membrane. The inner membrane(s) may be formed orflexible, rigid or semi-rigid materials.

The floral container may further include an inner tube having an upperend with an upper opening and a lower end with a lower opening. Theupper end of the inner tube may be attached to the vase near the upperend thereof such that the upper opening of the inner tube is congruentwith the open upper end of the vase. The lower end of the inner tube maybe attached to an inner bottom surface of the vase, the inner membraneof the vase, or the inner surface of the vase.

The floral container may further include a plurality of openings in anupper portion of the vase. Each opening may be sized to receive a plantstem when the upper portion of the vase having the plurality of openingsis inverted into the interior space of the vase.

The floral container may further include a rigid or semi-rigid disk forsupporting plant stems disposed within the interior space of the vase.The rigid or semi-rigid disk may be free from attachment to the innersurface of the vase. The rigid or semi-rigid disk may include aplurality of openings for receiving the plant stems. In addition, therigid or semi-rigid disk may have a central opening and a plurality ofperipheral openings outside the central opening. The central opening inthe rigid or semi-rigid disk may have a serrated edge and a protuberanceextending into the central opening.

The inner membrane of the floral container may have a substantially flatshape, a substantially conical or convex shape, or a substantiallyfunnel or concave shape.

The floral container may be constructed of one or more layers ofmaterial.

In another embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimed inventiveconcept(s) is related to a flexible floral container that includes aflexible vase and a plurality of retaining members. The flexible vasehas a sidewall, an open upper end, a closed lower end, an outer surfaceand an inner surface encompassing an interior space. The plurality ofretaining members may be attached to or formed in at least a portion ofthe sidewall of the vase. Each retaining member is sized to receive atleast a portion of at least one plant stem.

The floral container may further include an inner membrane extendingacross a portion of the interior space. A first portion of the membranemay be attached to a first portion of the inner surface of the vase andat least a separate second portion attached to a separate second portionof the inner surface of the vase.

The flexible floral vase of the flexible flora container may be formedof one or more layers of material. In one embodiment, the flexible vaseis formed of at least two layers of material, and the plurality ofretaining members are attached to or formed in an inner layer ofmaterial.

In yet another embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimed inventiveconcept(s) is related to a flexible floral container that includes aflexible vase and at least one tube within an interior space of thevase. The flexible vase has having an open upper end, a closed lowerend, an outer surface and an inner surface encompassing the interiorspace. The at least one tube is attached to the inner surface of thevase and is sized to receive a plant stem inserted into the vase throughthe open upper end.

The flexible floral container may further include an inner membraneextending across a portion of the interior space, with a first portionof the membrane attached to a first portion of the inner surface of thevase and at least a separate second portion attached to a separatesecond portion of the inner surface of the vase.

An upper end of the at least one tube may be attached to the vase nearthe upper end thereof such that an upper opening of the at least onetube is congruent with the open upper end of the vase. A lower end ofthe at least one tube may be anchored within the vase. The lower end ofthe inner tube may be attached to an inner bottom surface of the vase. Alower portion of the inner tube may have a plurality of openings in asidewall thereof for allowing passage of water or other fluids. The atleast one tube may extend from near the open upper end of the vase tonear the closed lower end of the vase. In addition, the at least onetube may include a plurality of tubes or tunnels formed within an innerlayer of the vase.

In yet another embodiment of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s), a flexible floral container is provided thatincludes a flexible vase and a stem support assembly. The flexible vasehas a sidewall, an open upper end, a closed lower end, an outer surfaceand an inner surface encompassing an interior space. The stem supportassembly includes an upper disk, a lower disk, and a tubular memberconnecting the upper disk to the lower disk. The upper disk and thelower disk each have at least one opening therein, wherein the at leastone opening is sized to receive a plant stem. The upper disk may have adiameter which is smaller than the diameter of the lower disk. Inaddition, the upper disk may have a groove in an outer peripheral edgethereof which extends about the circumference of the upper disk, whereinthe groove can receive a securing element for securing the vase to theupper disk.

The flexible container may further include an inner membrane extendingacross a portion of the interior space, with a first portion of themembrane attached to a first portion of the inner surface of the vaseand at least a separate second portion attached to a separate secondportion of the inner surface of the vase.

The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) is also relatedto a method of providing a plant package. The method includes providingany of the floral containers described herein above, providing at leastone cut flower having a stem, and disposing at least a portion of thestem of the at least one cut flower within an interior space of thefloral container. The method may further include securing the floralcontainer about the at least one cut flower via a securing element.

In another embodiment of the presently disclosed and claimed inventiveconcept(s), a plurality of cut flowers are provided and disposed withinany of the floral containers described herein. In such method, at leasta portion of the stems of the cut flowers are disposed through theopening(s) formed in an inner membrane (or retaining members, tube orstem support assembly) so that the stems assume a tripod or tipi shapeand provide structural integrity to the floral container and thuscooperate to maintain the floral container in a substantially erectcondition.

The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) is also relatedto plant packages formed by the methods described herein above.

Other objects, features and advantages of the presently disclosed andclaimed inventive concept(s) will become apparent from the followingdetailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanyingfigures and appended claims.

In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, a flexible floral container (alsoreferred to herein as “container”, “flexible floral vase” or simply“vase”) of the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) isdesignated by the general reference numeral 10. The container 10comprises a flexible floral vase 12 and an inner membrane 14. Theflexible floral vase 12 may be formed of a bag, sleeve or sheet ofmaterial formed into a vase-type structure. The flexible floral vase 12may be constructed from a waterproof material, or the flexible floralvase 12 may be constructed of multiple layers of material wherein atleast an inner layer thereof is waterproof. The flexible floral vase 12has a closed lower end 16 having a bottom 18, an upper end 20 which ispreferably open, and a sidewall 22. The sidewall 22 has an inner surface24 and an outer surface 26, and the bottom 18 has an inner surface 28and an outer surface 30. The inner surfaces 24 and 28 encompass aninterior space 32 within the vase 12. In certain embodiments the upperend 20 is open, but in other embodiments the upper end 20 may be closed.The inner membrane 14 has an upper surface 34, a lower surface 36, andan outer peripheral edge 38 (see FIG. 2). The inner membrane 14 may beprovided with any shape, and a square shape is shown in FIG. 2 for thepurposes of illustration only; however, it is to be understood that theinner membrane 14 may have a circular, oval, elliptical, rectangular,hexagonal, octagonal, pentagonal, or trapezoidal shape, or any othershape known in the art. In certain embodiments, the inner membrane 14 isprovided with a shape that matches the inner circumference (or otherperimeter shape) of the vase 12.

The inner membrane 14 may be attached to at least a portion of the innersurface 24 of the vase 12. The inner membrane 14 may be partially orcompletely attached along its outer peripheral edge 38 or along aportion of the inner membrane 14 near the outer peripheral edge 38. Theinner membrane 14 may be attached to the inner surface 24 of the vase 12by any appropriate means, including but not limited to, heat sealing,welding, taping, and adhesive or cohesive bonding materials. Inalternative embodiments, the inner membrane 14 may not be attached tothe vase 12, as described in greater detail herein after.

The inner membrane 14 may have at least one opening 40 formed therein;optionally, the inner membrane 14 may be formed of a sufficiently thinmaterial or may have portions thereof that are sufficiently thinner thanthe remainder of the inner membrane 14 such that at least one opening 40can easily be made therein, as discussed in more detail herein below.The one or more openings 40 in inner membrane 14 may be positioned moreor less in a middle portion (FIG. 2) therein, or in a more peripheralportion thereof, or both. In certain embodiments, at least one of theone or more openings 40 are positioned in close proximity to the outerperipheral edge 38 of the inner membrane 14, so that stems of flowersinserted therethrough can be positioned in close proximity to thesidewall 22 of the vase 12 and provide structural support thereto.

The inner membrane 14 may be constructed without one or morepreconstructed openings 40. In such an embodiment, the inner membrane 14may not be connected completely along the outer peripheral edge 38 tothe inner surface 24 of the vase 12, and at least one opening 40 isformed between the inner surface 24 of the vase 12 and an unattachedportion of the outer peripheral edge 38 of the inner membrane 14.Alternatively, the inner membrane 14 may be completely attached alongthe outer peripheral edge 38 thereof to the inner surface 24 of the vase12, and the inner membrane 14 may be constructed of a material which canbe readily pierced by a stem of a plant or cut flower to form one ormore openings 40.

The inner membrane 14 may be any shape appropriate for a shape of thevase 12. For example, if the vase 12 when opened has a shape which issquare or rectangular in cross-section, the inner membrane 14 may have asquare or rectangular shape, respectively. Alternatively, when the vase12 when open has a circular, oval, or elliptical shape in cross-section,the inner membrane 14 may have a circular, oval or elliptical shape,respectively.

The flexible floral vase 12 or any other vase shown herein may have anyone of a variety of shapes. In certain embodiments the vase 12 has ashape of a frustum (i.e., having a truncated top), when open. Forexample the vase 12 may have a frusto-conical shape 42 (as shown in FIG.3). Similarly, the vase 12 may have a frusto-polyhedral shape,including, but not limited to, a frusto-tetrahedron 44 (a three-sidedpyramid with a flat (open) top, as shown in FIG. 4) a frusto-pentahedron46 (a four-sided pyramid, as shown in FIG. 5), a frusto-hexahedron 48 (afive-sided pyramid, as shown in FIG. 6), and a frusto-heptahedron 50 (asix-sided pyramid, as shown in FIG. 7). Optionally, the vase 12 may havea more cylindrical shape without a substantial taper. The inner membrane14 may have a shape which corresponds to a transection of the vase 12within which it is disposed; for example, the frusto-pyramidal container46 of FIG. 5 would have a square-shaped inner membrane 14, while thefrusto-hexagonal container 48 of FIG. 6 would have a pentagon-shapedinner membrane 14.

The flexible floral vase 12 may be constructed to have an initiallyflattened condition to promote ease of shipping and storage. The vase 12may have appropriately positioned gussets or folds in the sidewall 22and/or bottom 18 for enabling the vase 12 to be opened from theflattened condition or collapsed from the opened condition to aflattened condition. Examples of how a vase 12 could be constructed tohave such gussets or folds are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,301 which ishereby expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

As noted above, the inner membrane 14 may have a plurality of openings40, as shown in FIG. 2, for receiving plant stems. Alternatively, asshown in FIG. 8, an inner membrane 52 is shown as having a singleopening 54 for receiving one or more plant stems.

While the opening(s) of the inner membranes have been shown hereinpreviously as being circular in shape, it is to be understood that theopening(s) may assume any shape that allows the inner membrane tofunction in accordance with the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s). Shown in FIG. 9 is another embodiment of an innermembrane, designated therein by reference numeral 56, which has a singleopening 58 which has a serrated inner edge 60 for enhancing thestabilizing effect of the inner membrane 56 against the stems of theplants inserted therein.

Returning now to a method of use of the flexible floral container 10 ofthe presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s), as shown inFIG. 1, the inner membrane 14 substantially separates the interior space32 into an upper interior space 62 above the inner membrane 14 and alower interior space 64 below the inner membrane 14. The lower interiorspace 64 serves generally as a reservoir for holding water or any otherfluid or granular growth or retaining medium disposed within thecontainer 10.

Shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 10 a is the flexible floral container 10 ofFIG. 1 having a plurality of cut flowers 66 having stems 68 disposedtherein. The stems 68 are positioned in a manner that forms a tripod ortipi shape that allows the stems 68 to act as structural members andcooperate with the flexible floral container 10 to maintain a plantpackage 74 formed therefrom in a substantially erect condition. Disposedwithin the lower interior space 64 below the inner membrane 14 is aquantity of water 70 or other fluid or granular growth or retainingmedium. The inner membrane 14, while serving to gather and support thestems 68 of the cut flowers 66, also functions as a “catch basin” or“reservoir” to prevent substantial amounts of the water 70 or othermedium from spilling from the container 10 if the container 10 is tippedover, falls over or collapses. As shown in FIG. 11, if the container 10with the cut flowers 66 and water 70 therein falls over, most of thewater 70 is retained by the inner membrane 14 within the lower interiorspace 64, while a small portion of the water 70 may spill into the upperinterior space 62, thus preventing a major loss of the water 70 and theconcomitant damage which might be caused due to the spillage of water 70or other medium from the container 10.

In one embodiment the vase 12 of the container 10 is constructed of oneor more layers of material, wherein at least one of the layers (or acombination of two or more layers) is a waterproof material such as apolymer film, including but not limited to, polyolefin films such aspolyethylene and polypropylene. One or more layers of material fromwhich the vase 12 is constructed may be a non-waterproof material, suchas but not limited to, cloth, fabrics, paper, porous polymeric materialsor the like. Such materials will have been rendered waterproof bylamination, attachment or use in combination with to a waterproofmaterial such as a polyolefin such as polyethylene or polypropylene.Decorative patterns, designs, effects, colors, finishes, or materialsmay be applied to the inner surface 24 and/or outer surface 22 of thevase 12 of the container 10 for creating a decorative effect on thecontainer 10.

The container 10 optionally may be secured about the stems 68 of the cutflowers 66 disposed therein via a securing element 72 as shown in FIG.10A. The securing element 72 may be a band, including elastic or rubberbands. The securing element 72 may be any other type of material thatcan secure the container 10 about the stems 68 of the cut flowers 66,such as but not limited to, an adhesive, a cohesive, a string or elasticpiece of material, non-elastic piece of material, a round piece ofmaterial, a flat piece of material, a ribbon, a piece of paper strip, apiece of plastic strip, a piece of wire, a tape, a staple, a tie wrap ora twist tie or combinations thereof or any other device capable ofgathering portions of the container 10 to secure the container 10 aboutthe cut flowers 66.

While cut flowers 66 are illustrated and described herein, it is to beunderstood that the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s)may be utilized with cut plants or a floral grouping as well. The term“floral grouping” as used herein means fresh cut flowers, dried cutflowers, cut plants, floral arrangements, floral bouquets, artificialflowers or plants, whole plants, including roots, and any othersecondary plants or ornaments which add to the overall aesthetics of thearrangement with the container 10, as well as any combination thereof.

The container 10 with the cut flowers 66 disposed therein, andoptionally a securing element 72 disposed thereabout, together comprisea plant package 74. The plant package may further comprise a fluidmedium, growth medium or retaining medium 70, such as but not limitedto, water disposed therein.

An alternate embodiment of the floral container of the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13and is designated therein by the general reference numeral 10 a.Container 10 a is substantially the same as container 10 exceptcontainer 10 a has a first inner membrane 14 a with an opening 40 and asecond inner membrane 80 having at least one opening 81 formed therein.The at least one opening 81 of the second inner membrane 80 may bepositioned at the same location or at a different location when comparedto the at least one opening 40 a of the first inner membrane 14 a ofcontainer 10 a, in a position above the first inner membrane 14 a (bothof the at least one openings 40 a and 81 being like the openings 40described previously). In one embodiment, the second inner membrane 80is attached to an inner surface 24 a of the vase 12 a in a mannersimilar to that of inner membrane 14 a which is attached in a similarmanner. Alternatively, the second inner membrane 80 may not be attachedto the vase 12 a.

As shown in FIG. 13, cut flowers 66 are disposed within the vase 12 a ina manner similar to container 10 except the stems 68 are insertedthrough the openings 40 a and 81 of both the first inner membrane 14 aand the second inner membrane 80, respectively, thereby forming a plantpackage 74 a.

In FIG. 13, the inner membranes 14 a and 80 are illustrated as eachhaving single openings 40 a and 81, respectively, formed therein.Therefore, the stems 68 of the cut flowers 66 cannot form the tripod ortipi shape discussed herein above so as to provide structural support tothe floral container 10 a. Therefore, the vase 12 a of the floralcontainer 10 a must be formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material thatallows the floral container 10 a to maintain a substantially erectcondition in the absence of the cut flowers 66. However, it is to beunderstood that a floral vase 12 a may be constructed of a flexiblematerial if the inner membranes 14 a and 80 are provided with more thanone openings 40 a and 81 formed therein such that when cut flowers 68are disposed therein, the stems 66 assume a tripod or tipi shape andthus provide structural support to the floral container 10 a.

Shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 is an alternate embodiment of the containerconstructed in accordance with the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) designated by the general reference numeral 10 b.Container 10 b comprises a vase 12 b having an inner membrane 14 bdisposed therein as previously described. The inner membrane 14 b isshown as being attached to the vase 12 b for illustration purposes only,and it is to be understood that the inner membrane 14 b may not beattached to the vase 12 b. The vase 12 b has a closed lower end 16 bhaving a bottom 18 b, and an upper end 20 b which may be open. The vase12 b has a sidewall 22 b which has an inner surface 24 b and an outersurface 26 b. The bottom 18 b has an inner surface 28 b and an outersurface 30 b. The inner membrane 14 b has an upper surface 34 b and alower surface 36 b and at least one opening 40 b having a configurationsimilar to openings 40 discussed previously. Inner membrane 14 b differsfrom inner membrane 14 primarily in that inner membrane 14 b has a“bag-like” shape, for example a conical (convex) shape, wherein theinner membrane 14 b has an upper end 82 disposed in a direction towardthe upper end 20 b of the vase 12 b. Depending on the shape of the vase12 b (as described previously for vase 12), the inner membrane 14 b maymerely be a single sheet of material attached at two ends thereof toportions of the inner surface 24 b of the vase 12 b, or may have a shapewhich corresponds to a transection of the shape of the vase 12 b withinwhich the inner membrane 14 b is attached. Shown in FIG. 15 is a plantpackage 74 b comprising the container 10 b, with cut flowers 66 andwater or growing or retaining medium 70 disposed therein. The stems 68form a tripod or tipi shape that provides structural integrity to theplant package 74 b.

Shown in FIGS. 16-17 is an alternate embodiment of the containerconstructed in accordance with the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s), designated generally by the reference numeral 10c. Container 10 c has a vase 12 c with an inner membrane 14 c attachedto an inner surface 24 c thereof (however, it is to be understood thatthe inner membrane 14 c may not be attached to the vase 12 c). The innermembrane 14 c is similar to inner membrane 14 b, except that the innermembrane 14 c has an inverted “bag-like” shape such that the innermembrane 14 c is attached to a portion of the inner surface 24 c of thevase 12 c wherein the inner membrane 14 c has a lower end 82 c which ispointed in a direction downwardly toward a bottom 18 c of the vase 12 c,such that the inner membrane 14 c has a cup, or funnel (concave) shape.A plant package 74 c is shown in FIG. 17, wherein the plant package 74 ccomprises the container 10 c having cut flowers 66 and water or growingor retaining medium 70 disposed therein, and having the container 10 coptionally secured thereto via a securing element (not shown) asdiscussed previously.

Shown in FIG. 18 is another embodiment constructed in accordance withthe presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s). Container 10 dis similar to container 10 c in that it has an inner membrane 14 d whichhas a shape similar to the inner membrane 14 c, except the innermembrane 14 d is attached to an inner surface 24 d of the vase 12 d inclose proximity to an opening in an upper end 20 d of the vase 12 d.

The containers 10 c and 10 d are the same as containers 10-10 b asdescribed previously except for the differences as described above.

An alternate embodiment of the invention designated as container 10 e isshown in FIG. 19. Container 10 e as shown is substantially similar tocontainer 10 (or any other container 10 a-10 d) in that it comprises avase 12 e and an inner membrane 14 e attached to an inner surface 24 eof the vase 12 e (and cut flowers 66 and water or growing or retainingmedium 70 disposed in the container 10 e to form a plant package 74 e).The plant package 74 e differs in that container 10 e further comprisesa stem positioning member 84, such as but not limited to, an uppersupport disk constructed of a rigid or semi-rigid material, which may bea plastic or polymeric material. The stem positioning member 84 has atleast one opening 86 through which at least one stem 68 of at least onecut flower 66 can be disposed. The stem 68 further passes through anopening 40 e in the inner membrane 14 e as previously described. The atleast one opening 86 of the stem positioning member 84 can be configuredin a variety of manners such as shown for example but not by way oflimitation, the four openings in stem positioning members 84, 84 a, 84b, and 84 c in FIGS. 20-23, respectively. In one embodiment, the stempositioning member 84 (or 84 a-84 c) is positioned near an upper end 20e of the vase 12 e. Optionally, the container 10 e is secured about thecut flowers 66 by a securing element (not shown) as described hereinpreviously. Alternatively, the stem positioning member 84 may be usedalone as a support device with a vase 12 ee having no inner membranewherein the vase 12 ee, stem positioning member 84, cut flowers 66 andsecuring element 72 disposed thereabout form a plant package 74 ee(FIGS. 24A and 24B). In FIG. 24A, the stem positioning member 84 isattached to the vase 74 ee; in FIG. 24B, the stem positioning member 84is not attached to the vase 74 ee.

An alternate version of the invention is shown in FIGS. 25-26 ascontainer 10 f. Container 10 f is similar to any of containers 10-10 ee.Container 10 f comprises a vase 12 f and an inner membrane 14 f. Vase 12f comprises a sidewall 22 f, a lower end 16 f, an open upper end 20 fand at least one opening 86 in a portion of the sidewall 22 f, such asbut not limited to, in close proximity to the upper end 20 f. The atleast one opening 86 is sized to receive at least one stem 68 of atleast one cut flower 66 therethrough. In use, an upper portion 88 of thevase 12 f is inverted into an interior space 32 f of the vase 12 fwherein the at least one opening 86 can receive the stem 68 as shown inFIG. 26 wherein the cut flowers 66 are supported within the container 10f to form a plant package 74 f.

A further embodiment of the presently disclosed and claimed inventiveconcept(s) is shown in FIG. 27 and is designated as container 10 gtherein. Container 10 g is constructed in a manner similar to any ofcontainers 10-10 f except that the inner membrane 14-14 f is substitutedwith a membrane which has a shape of a tube, and which is designatedherein as inner tube 90. The inner tube 90 is disposed within vase 12 gof container 10 g in a more or less vertical orientation (however, it isto be understood that the inner tube 90 may be disposed in a in adiagonal orientation, if desired). Inner tube 90 has a sidewall 92, anopen upper end 94, a lower end 96, and at least one opening 98 in alower portion of the sidewall 92 in close proximity to the lower end 96.The inner tube 90 is attached at the upper end 94 thereof to a portionof a sidewall 22 g of the vase 12 g near an upper end 20 g thereof.Similarly, the inner tube 90 is attached at the lower end 96 thereof toa portion of a bottom 18 g of the vase 12 g. An interior space 32 g ofthe vase 12 g is therefore subdivided generally into a central interiorspace 100 within the inner tube 90 and a peripheral interior space 102outside of the inner tube 90.

In yet another embodiment of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s), as shown in FIG. 28, a container 10 h is providedwhich comprises a vase 12 h, an inner membrane 14 h which is similar toany of inner membranes 14-14 f, and an inner tube 90 h which is similarto the inner tube 90 described herein before. Inner tube 90 h may beconnected to inner membrane 14 h and/or to a bottom 18 h of the vase 12h. In other respects, container 10 h is similar to any one of containers10-10 g.

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 29, the invention comprises acontainer 10 i which comprises a vase 12 i, an inner membrane 14 i(similar to other inner membranes described above), and an inner tube 90i which is attached to inner membrane 14 i but not to a bottom 18 i ofthe vase 12 i, in contrast to the container 10 h shown in FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 shows a plant package 74 i comprising the container 10 i, cutflowers 66 and water or growing or retaining medium 70 disposed therein.In other respects, container 10 i is similar to container 10 h and,where applicable, to containers 10-10 g.

In yet another embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimed inventiveconcept(s) comprises a container 10 j as shown in FIGS. 31-33. Container10 j (as shown in FIG. 31 and in the top plan view of FIG. 32) comprisesa vase 12 j (having a bottom 18 j and an upper end 20 j), and aretaining member 90 j, such as an inner tube having an upper end 94 jand a lower end 96 j. The inner tube retaining member 90 j is connectedat its upper end 94 j to vase 12 j in a manner similar to that shown forcontainer 10 g. However, container 10 j differs from container 10 g inthat the lower end 96 j of the inner tube retaining member 10 j does notextend completely to bottom 18 j of vase 12 j but rather is attachedthereto via at least one anchor 104. The open lower end 96 j istherefore open to an interior space 32 j of the vase 12 j.

The term “retaining member” as used herein will be understood to referto any structure that limits movement of an element of a floral groupingfor decorative or structural purposes. While particular examples ofretaining members that may be utilized in accordance with the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) have been described herein,it is to be understood that the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) is not limited to such embodiments; rather, anyelement that may function as a retaining member as described herein alsofalls within the scope of the presently disclosed and claimed inventiveconcept(s).

Illustrated in FIG. 33 is a plant package 74 j comprising container 10j, cut flowers 66 and water or growing or retaining medium 70 disposedtherein, and the container 10 j secured about the cut flowers 66 via anoptional securing element 72 as described previously herein. In otherrespects container 10 j is the same as containers 10-10 i, whereapplicable, as described elsewhere herein.

In a further embodiment, the invention comprises a container 10 k asshown in FIGS. 34-35. Container 10 k comprises a vase 12 k having alower end 16 k comprising a sidewall 22 k having an inner surface 24 kand an outer surface 26 k, and an interior space 32 k.

The container 10 k further comprises a plurality of retaining memberssuch as tubes or tunnels 110 within the interior space 32 k, each ofwhich is attached to a portion of the inner surface 24 k of the sidewall22 k either along the entire length of each tunnel 110 or along only oneor more discrete portions of each tunnel 110. The tunnels 100 may bedirectly attached to the inner surface 24 k of the sidewall 22 k, or thetunnels 110 may be attached via at least one anchor 112. Each tunnel 110is sized to contain at least one stem 68 of at least one cut flower 66as shown in FIG. 35. A plant package 74 k is shown in FIG. 35 ascomprising the container 10 k and at least one cut flower 66 within atleast one tunnel 110 of the container 10 k, and water or growing orretaining medium 70 disposed in the container 10 k. Container 10 k mayfurther comprise an inner membrane as shown in any other container shownherein. Container 10 k is also constructed in a manner similar to anycontainer 10-10 j as shown herein except as described above.

Yet another version of the invention is shown in FIGS. 36-37 ascontainer 10 m. Container 10 m comprises a vase 12 m which has a lowerend 16 m, a bottom 18 m, an upper end 20 m, a sidewall 22 m and an outersurface 24 m, and an interior space 32 m. The container 10 m furthercomprises a plurality of retaining members such as loops 114 attached tothe inner surface 24 m of the sidewall 22 m. The loops 114 function in amanner similar to the tunnels 110 of container 10 k, and in effect areminiature tunnels for holding at least one stem 68 of at least one cutflower 66 as shown in FIG. 36A (thereby providing a plant package 74 m).Container 10 m may further comprise an inner membrane as discussedelsewhere herein. Container 10 m is also constructed in a manner similarto any of container 10-10 k as shown herein except as described above.

In FIG. 36B, the plurality of loops is integrally formed in at least onelayer of the material from which the vase 12 m is constructed. An upperloop 114 allows a portion of a stem 68 to penetrate through at least onelayer of the material from which the vase 12 m is constructed, while alower loop 114 allows the stem 68 to penetrate back through the layer(s)of material and thus be positioned within the interior space 32 m. Inone embodiment, the stem 68 penetrates through the outer surface 24 m,while in other embodiments, a portion of the stem 68 residing betweenthe upper and lower loops 114 is disposed within the sidewall 22 m, inbetween the inner and outer surfaces 24 m and 26 m, respectively.

In an alternative embodiment the container constructed in accordancewith the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) maycomprise a container 10 n as shown in FIGS. 38-40. FIG. 38 shows a stemsupport assembly 116 for supporting a plurality of cut flowers 66disposed within the container 10 n. Stem support assembly 116 comprisesan upper disk 118 and a lower disk 120 which are connected via a tubularmember 122. Each disk 118 and 120 has at least one, and in someembodiments, a plurality of openings 124 and 126, respectively, throughwhich stems 68 of cut flowers 66 can be inserted. The upper disk 118 mayhave a diameter which is less than a diameter of the lower disk 120.Each disk 118 and 120 is shown as having a circular shape; however, itis to be understood that the disks 118 and 120 could be constructed tohave a shape which corresponds to whatever shape a vase 12 n of thecontainer 10 n is constructed to have in transverse cross-section, forexample a square, rectangle, triangle, pentagon or hexagon. Furthermore,the upper disk 118 may have a groove 128 in the outer periphery 130thereof for receiving a securing element 72 when such a securing element72 is used to secure the container 10 n about the stem support assembly116 and stems 68 as shown in FIGS. 39 and 40. In use, the stem supportassembly 116 is disposed within the vase 12 n of the container 10 n andis used to support stems 68 of cut flowers 66 inserted through theopenings 124 and 126 in the disks 118 and 120. The tubular member 122may be hollow to allow passage of water or growing or retaining medium70 therethrough. The container 10 n, including the stem support assembly116, and cut flowers 66 comprise a plant package 74 n. The stem supportassembly 116 may be constructed of any material which functions inaccordance with the presently disclosed and claimed inventiveconcept(s), such as but not limited to, a plastic or polymeric material.

While the invention is described herein in connection with certainembodiments so that aspects thereof may be more fully understood andappreciated, it is not intended that the invention be limited to theseparticular embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended that allalternatives, modifications and equivalents are included within thescope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Thus theexamples described below, which include certain embodiments, will serveto illustrate the practice of this invention, it being understood thatthe particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes ofillustrative discussion of preferred embodiments of the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) only and are presented in thecause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readilyunderstood description of procedures as well as of the principles andconceptual aspects of the invention. Changes may be made in theformulation of the various compositions described herein or in the stepsor the sequence of steps of the methods described herein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as described andclaimed herein.

1. A method of providing a plant package, comprising the steps of:providing at least one cut flower having a stem; providing a floralcontainer comprising: a floral vase formed of a material capable ofcontaining water, the floral vase having a sidewall, an open upper end,a closed lower end, an outer surface and an inner surface encompassingan interior space, at least a portion of the sidewall of the floral vasebeing flexible; at least one inner membrane extending across a portionof the interior space of the vase, wherein the at least one innermembrane comprises at least one opening formed therein for allowingpassage of at least one flower or plant stem therethrough; and whereinthe floral vase is incapable of maintaining the floral container in asubstantially erect position in the absence of the at least one innermembrane; and disposing at least a portion of the stem of the at leastone cut flower through the at least one opening in the inner membranewithin the interior space of the floral vase of the floral container,whereby the combination of the floral vase and the stem of the at leastone cut flower provide an assembly that can support itself in an erectcondition.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step ofsecuring the floral container about the at least one cut flower via asecuring element.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein, in the step ofproviding a floral container, the at least one inner membrane of thefloral container is rigid or semi-rigid.
 4. The method of claim 1wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the at least oneinner membrane of the floral container is flexible.
 5. A method ofproviding a plant package, comprising the steps of: providing at leastone cut flower having a stem; providing a floral container comprising: afloral vase formed of a material capable of containing water, the floralvase having a sidewall, an open upper end, a closed lower end, an outersurface and an inner surface encompassing an interior space, at least aportion of the sidewall of the floral vase being flexible; at least oneinner membrane extending across a portion of the interior space of thevase, wherein the at least one inner membrane comprises at least oneopening formed therein for allowing passage of at least one flower orplant stem therethrough; and wherein the floral vase is incapable ofmaintaining the floral container in a substantially erect position inthe absence of the at least one inner membrane; and disposing at least aportion of the stem of the at least one cut flower through the at leastone opening in the inner membrane within the interior space of thefloral vase of the floral container; and disposing fluid within theinterior space of the floral vase of the floral container, whereby thecombination of the floral vase, the stem of the at least one cut flowerand the fluid provide an assembly that can support itself in an erectcondition.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step ofsecuring the floral container about the at least one cut flower via asecuring element.
 7. The method of claim 5 wherein, in the step ofproviding a floral container, the at least one inner membrane of thefloral container is rigid or semi-rigid.
 8. The method of claim 5wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the at least oneinner membrane of the floral container is flexible.
 9. A method ofproviding a plant package, comprising the steps of: providing at leastone cut flower having a stem; providing a floral container comprising: afloral vase formed of a material capable of containing water, the floralvase having a sidewall, an open upper end, a closed lower end, an outersurface and an inner surface encompassing an interior space, at least aportion of the sidewall of the floral vase being flexible; at least oneinner membrane extending across a portion of the interior space of thevase, wherein the at least one inner membrane comprises at least oneopening formed therein for allowing passage of at least one flower orplant stem therethrough; and wherein the floral vase is incapable ofmaintaining the floral container in a substantially erect position inthe absence of the at least one inner membrane; and disposing at least aportion of the stem of the at least one cut flower through the at leastone opening in the inner membrane within the interior space of thefloral vase of the floral container; and disposing at least one of agrowth medium and a retaining medium within the interior space of thefloral vase of the floral container, whereby the combination of thefloral vase, the stem of the at least one cut flower and the growthand/or retaining medium provide an assembly that can support itself inan erect condition.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising thestep of securing the floral container about the at least one cut flowervia a securing element.
 11. The method of claim 9 wherein, in the stepof providing a floral container, the at least one inner membrane of thefloral container is rigid or semi-rigid.
 12. The method of claim 9wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the at least oneinner membrane of the floral container is flexible.
 13. The method ofclaim 9 wherein, in the step of disposing at least one of a growthmedium and a retaining medium, the growth medium is further defined as agranular growth medium.
 14. A method of providing a plant package,comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of cut flowers havingstems; providing a floral container comprising: a floral vase formed ofa material capable of containing water, the floral vase having asidewall, an open upper end, a closed lower end, an outer surface and aninner surface encompassing an interior space, at least a portion of thesidewall of the floral vase being flexible; at least one inner membraneextending across a portion of the interior space of the vase, whereinthe at least one inner membrane comprises at least one opening formedtherein for allowing passage of at least one flower or plant stemtherethrough; and wherein the floral vase is incapable of maintainingthe floral container in a substantially erect position in the absence ofthe at least one inner membrane; and disposing at least a portion of thestems of the plurality of cut flowers through the at least one openingformed in the at least one inner membrane of the floral containerwhereby the stems assume a tripod or tipi shape and provide structuralintegrity to the floral container and thus cooperate to maintain thefloral container in a substantially erect condition.
 15. The method ofclaim 14, further comprising the step of securing the floral containerabout the cut flowers via a securing element.
 16. The method of claim 14wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the at least oneinner membrane of the floral container is rigid or semi-rigid.
 17. Themethod of claim 14 wherein, in the step of providing a floral container,the at least one inner membrane of the floral container is flexible. 18.A method of providing a plant package, comprising the steps of:providing a plurality of cut flowers having stems; providing a floralcontainer comprising: a floral vase formed of a material capable ofcontaining water, the floral vase having a sidewall, an open upper end,a closed lower end, an outer surface and an inner surface encompassingan interior space, at least a portion of the sidewall of the floral vasebeing flexible; at least one inner membrane extending across a portionof the interior space of the vase, wherein the at least one innermembrane comprises at least one opening formed therein for allowingpassage of at least one flower or plant stem therethrough; and whereinthe floral vase is incapable of maintaining the floral container in asubstantially erect position in the absence of the at least one innermembrane; and disposing at least a portion of the stems of the pluralityof cut flowers through the at least one opening formed in the at leastone inner membrane of the floral container; and disposing fluid withinthe interior space of the floral vase of the floral container, wherebythe stems of the plurality of cut flowers assume a tripod or tipi shapeand provide structural integrity to the floral container and thuscooperate with the fluid to maintain the floral container in asubstantially erect condition.
 19. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising the step of securing the floral container about the cutflowers via a securing element.
 20. The method of claim 18 wherein, inthe step of providing a floral container, the at least one innermembrane of the floral container is rigid or semi-rigid.
 21. The methodof claim 18 wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the atleast one inner membrane of the floral container is flexible.
 22. Amethod of providing a plant package, comprising the steps of: providinga plurality of cut flowers having stems; providing a floral containercomprising: a floral vase formed of a material capable of containingwater, the floral vase having a sidewall, an open upper end, a closedlower end, an outer surface and an inner surface encompassing aninterior space, at least a portion of the sidewall of the floral vasebeing flexible; at least one inner membrane extending across a portionof the interior space of the vase, wherein the at least one innermembrane comprises at least one opening formed therein for allowingpassage of at least one flower or plant stem therethrough; and whereinthe floral vase is incapable of maintaining the floral container in asubstantially erect position in the absence of the at least one innermembrane; and disposing at least a portion of the stems of the pluralityof cut flowers through the at least one opening formed in the at leastone inner membrane of the floral container; and disposing at least oneof growth medium and retaining medium within the interior space of thefloral vase of the floral container, whereby the stems of the pluralityof cut flowers assume a tripod or tipi shape and provide structuralintegrity to the floral container and thus cooperate with the growthand/or retaining medium to maintain the floral container in asubstantially erect condition.
 23. The method of claim 22, furthercomprising the step of securing the floral container about the cutflowers via a securing element.
 24. The method of claim 22 wherein, inthe step of providing a floral container, the at least one innermembrane of the floral container is rigid or semi-rigid.
 25. The methodof claim 22 wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the atleast one inner membrane of the floral container is flexible.